Winter weather system hangs over Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley
Posted December 28, 2017 9:10 am.
Last Updated December 28, 2017 12:06 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
ABBOTSFORD (NEWS 1130) – It’s a cold, wet mess for much of Metro Vancouver with downright icy and slippery conditions as you head further east.
A winter storm warning is still in effect for the Fraser Valley, while Environment Canada has now lifted the warning for Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, Surrey and Langley.
A snowfall warning has also ended for a very wet North Shore, Vancouver, Burnaby and New Westminster. “We’re dealing with freezing rain in the Abbotsford area, the middle of the Fraser Valley, and also looking at heavy snow in Chilliwack and Hope,” says meteorologist Kenneth Chan.
“We expect the freezing rain to continue in the Fraser Valley for the morning before it slowly transitions to rain. For the eastern part of Metro Vancouver, basically we will be dealing with some rain and wet snow with the possibility of freezing rain, but the risk of that freezing rain will end this morning,” he tells NEWS 1130.
Chan suggests a layer of ice could build up in some areas, making driving — and even walking — a slick affair. “Ice accretion is definitely a concern. Roadways and sidewalks and all kinds of things will be quite slippery as ice builds up.”
Meanwhile, the risk of avalanche in the local mountains is on the rise.
Joe Lammers with Avalanche Canada says anyone headed into the back country over the next few days should be properly trained and equipped with appropriate gear, including shovels, beacons and probes.
“If you’re not trained in avalanche safety and you’re not proficient at recognizing terrain that’s appropriate for the conditions, this might not be the time to venture into the back country,” says Lammers. “Instead, maybe stay within the boundaries of your local ski resort.”
Up to 50 centimetres of snow is expected in the South Coast mountains by Friday.
Travellers heading out of town also face a wintry drive to the north and east.
The Sea to Sky Highway and Coquihalla are under heavy snowfall warnings with special weather statements issued for icy and snowy conditions on Highway One through the Fraser Canyon and Highway 3 east of Hope through Allison Pass.
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